Kant's Theory of Freedom [Paperback]

Henry E. Allison (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 28, 1990 | ISBN-10: 0521387086 | ISBN-13: 978-0521387088 | Edition: 1ST

In his new book the eminent Kant scholar Henry Allison provides an innovative and comprehensive interpretation of Kant's concept of freedom. The author analyzes the concept and discusses the role it plays in Kant's moral philosophy and psychology. He also considers in full detail the critical literature on the subject from Kant's own time to the present day. In the first part Professor Allison argues that at the center of the Critique of Pure Reason there is the foundation for a coherent general theory of rational agency. The second part employs this account of rational agency as a key to understanding Kant's concept of moral agency and associated moral psychology. The third part focuses on Kant's attempt to ground both moral law and freedom in the Groundwork and the Critique of Practical Reason. This is a major contribution to the interpretation of Kant which will be of special interest to scholars and graduate students of Kant's moral theory.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Allison has already established himself as one of the leading Kant interpreters of our time...The book is marked by originality of interpretation, by persuasiveness and sound judgment, and thus I expect the book to become an absolute standard in the field for the next generation." Jonathan Lear, Yale University

"This is an extremely valuable book which Kant scholars will be referring to for many years. Together with Beck's commentary on the Critique of Practical Reason, it constitutes indispensable reading for anyone interested in a serious study of Kant's views on morality, rational agency, and freedom." Vincent M. Cooke, International Philosophical Quarterly

"Henry Allsion's very challenging and very rewarding book provides an analysis and defence of Kant's theory of freedom in both its theoretical and practical dimensions." Dialogue

Book Description

An innovative and comprehensive interpretation of Kant's concept of freedom analyzes the role it plays in his moral philosophy and psychology and considers critical literature on the subject.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press; 1ST edition (September 28, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521387086
• ISBN-13: 978-0521387088
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,352,294 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What is man?, January 24, 2004

By 

John C. Landon "nemonemini" (New York City) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kant's Theory of Freedom (Paperback)

The Kantian treatment of the idea of freedom, and its relation to Kantian morality and the theme of practical reason, is one of the great moments in both world philosophy and world history, but is virtually banished from discourse now as Darwinism, pragmatism, analytic philosophy, or pop freudianism recycled rule the waves. The subject as seen here seems a lost treasure hunt story for an outsider, standard fare of course for this field, and very well done, linking together different stages of Kant's development where too many discussions finesse one part in isolation. Allison's restatement of something like the original Kantian view taken straight, after the analytic era and the modified Kantianism of commentators like Strawson, is as interesting as it is complicated, yet starkly clear in outline, if not always easy to follow. The broad outlines are majestic, even if we thought the result unsuccessful. Who was successful? The thicket of problems is so difficult most philosophy simply gives up and takes to a simplified myth,often dressed in science jargon. The subject needs a trail guide steeped in the literature of the two great critiques, to connect them together, and the author does a good job digesting this legacy, much of it in German, stretching over two centuries. The book starts with Kant's Third Antinomy and proceeds through the whole terrain, including a discussion of radical evil.
It is worth noting how E.O. Wilson in Consilience decided sociobiology is going to have to start a holy war for science and Darwinism against books like this, with their keynote of transcendental freedom, the noumenal and phenomenal aspect of agency, self, and freedom. Why anyone would be dumb enough to wish such a fight is hard to comprehend. Even in the midst of the obvious difficulties of the now classic Kantian approach it stands like the Himalayas beyond the pretenses of later philosophy with its curious claims to have progressed beyond this point, when in fact they have mostly forgotten their own tradition, content with the pragmatism of the couch potato.